There’s no Place Like Home for the Holidays

This past weekend Meghan and I continued our trend of doing “nerdy newlywed things” and purchased our first family Christmas tree. We were set on a real Christmas tree, and prior to Saturday afternoon owned exactly one ornament. We set out to rectify that situation, along with several other people with similar ideas, and hit up Target.

A disagreement in strategy became evident as tree decoration shopping began, Meghan advocating a color coordinated tree, in Boston College maroon and gold, and her loving and ever-cheesy husband going directly for the large Santa’s, snowmen and other goofy stuff. After some debate, the lighting situation was resolved with classy yet colorful lights, and I was able to compromise with some Santa ornaments: cheesy, yetcolor- coordinated with the red part of the theme.

One of the highlights of Christmas when I grew up was the train set. Soon after Thanksgiving, for what seems like eons I would bug my father to setup the trains: one steam engine set from his childhood, and a more modern set that was mine. They were attached to an “official train board” (i.e. plywood with fake grass matting), and had a little village and corresponding cars and other accoutrements that complemented the setup. It’s been years since I’ve had a train set, and upon consultation with Meghan we determined no tree would be complete without a railroad of our own.

The aptly named Westchester Model Train Store was a small child’s paradise and our vendor of choice. New trains were boxed and stacked to the ceiling, and display models in all manner of sizes and genres setup in every corner of the shop. From an authentic NY Subway train, complete with graffiti and perhaps simulated urine smell, to all manner of steam engines and diesel locomotives. The employees were a bit wacky, as one might expect from grown men selling model railroads to earn their bread, but we picked a nice MTH Pennsylvania RR steam engine starter set, complete with locomotive, oil, and freight cards, and an illuminated caboose. I also added a car carrier car in honor of my Grandfather, who was a Caddy mechanic, which came complete with 4 1956 blue convertible Cadillac’s.

We spent Sunday setting everything up, while enjoying some eggnog and Christmas music. I must say I have not been this full of holiday spirit this early in the season for quite some time. Enjoying our tree and train, with a cup of “Christmas cheer” in hand made for a very special afternoon, one I’ll remember whenever I look at our appropriately cheesy “First Christmas 2005” ornament.

You can enjoy pictures (plus some footage of the train in action) in the usual spot: the gallery.